Golden knight battalion newsletter · 2018-11-12 · GOLDEN KNIGHT BATTALION NEWSLETTER 5 Cadet Experience U.S. Army Ten Miler By David Mackey The Army Ten-Mile Race is an annual

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GOLDEN KNIGHT BATTALION NEWSLETTER

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November 2018

FROM THE FRONT

GKB PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE c/CPT Olsen

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Table of Contents

Page 3: Note from the PMS

Cadet of the Month: Cadet Gianna Valenti

Page 4: Promotions

Page 5: Cadet Experience, By Cadet David Mackey

Page 6: GKB Events; Saranac Lake Sixer, By Ryan

Weiner

Page 7: Preliminary Marksmanship, By Cadet

Madison Cunningham

Page 8: Monthly Photos

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Note from the PMS:

I want to use this month newsletter to discuss Change and the ROTC

Family.

Change is a fact of life. Changes can be unpopular and there will be

resistance. However, as an organizational leader you are expected

to make changes so you can improve your organization. Don't be

resistant to change or think that things are good the way they

are. Continue to grow and learn.

We are a family. I am very proud of the way the Battalion came

together to support a few Cadets that were struggling with personal

issues. Coming together and supporting each other is what

separates us from some random corporations or random sports

teams. The Army is all about being a family and a team. Continue to

support each other and bring issues to your cadet chain of

command. From the Front, MAJ Bill Nguyen

Cadet of the Month

Cadet Gianna Valenti

I joined Army ROTC because I was inspired

by my father and all those that have served.

Thanks to them we are fortunate enough to

live freely in the greatest country. I want to

serve to allow Americans to continue to

have their freedom. I hope to go into the

medical corps so that I can protect the

soldiers that are fighting to protect our

people and our rights. Even though

Soldiers put their lives on the line, I want to be the person there

that is making sure they are able to return home to their friends

and families. Army ROTC has become my greatest passion. My favorite aspect about the

program is that you are constantly challenged, mentally and physically, and developed.

Every Cadet is experiencing the same situations as the rest of the battalion. This fosters a

sense of brotherhood throughout the program. We all look out for each other and help

each other enhance our skills. I am motivated to achieve a good PT score and a high GPA

because I always keep my future in mind. I believe this is thanks to my family. They taught

me that I need to work hard to achieve what I want in life.

Photo

MAJ Nguyen

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Promotions

MS1s are promoted for exceeding the standard, performing above their peers, and leading

from the front!

c/PFC Matthew

Geary

c/PFC Tommy

Gonzalez c/PFC Thomas

Mellon

c/PFC Amanda

Riley

c/PFC Olga

Zubak

c/PFC Adaline

Friedlander

c/PFC

Benjamin

Dindo

c/PFC Jenna

Woods

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Cadet Experience

U.S. Army Ten Miler

By David Mackey

The Army Ten-Mile Race is an annual event that is held in

our nation’s Capital. This race has over 35,000 runners with

900 teams that come from around the world to participate.

Being able to bring a team down to compete in the ROTC

division was a very memorable thing for everyone involved.

Our team got to go down before the race to explore

Washington D.C. and the Army Ten-Mile Expo. During our

time there, we bonded as a team and learned more about our country’s heritage. The

following morning, we showed up early to the race and got to see all the hard work that

was put into making the event run so smooth. We were excited to see how much support

there was for all the runners and what this race meant to a lot of people. Lastly, the team

out performed almost all other ROTC teams and ended up coming in 12th place out of 96

teams. Special thanks to the Northern New York Chapter of the AUSA for their support.

Cadets of the GKB met General

Milley, US Army Chief-of-Staff

Cadet from the Golden Knight Battalion get a group photo with Mr. Toth, and 5 Alumni from the

ROTC program who ran the race as well

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Golden Knight Events

Saranac Lake Sixer Race

By Ryan Weiner

Over the weekend of October 13th, Cadets and some of the

Cadre had the opportunity for a team building exercise in the

Adirondacks. A team of six members of the Battalion made the

trip out to Saranac Lake to participate in the Saranac 6er, which

is a relay race that takes place over a 24-hour period. Each team

member hikes one of the peaks to get their ticket punched. This

shows that they have completed each

peak. The peaks ranged from 2,400 feet to around a 3,800-foot

ascent. Some of the peaks had a more rugged steep ascent

compared to the smaller peaks that had an easier and more direct

route to the top. Once one member finished a peak the team would

hop into the Battalion van and quickly travel to the next mountain

for another high-speed ascent. The Army

team was able to successfully complete

all 6 peaks and ended up coming in 2nd place (collegiate

category). Although we did not win, it was a good experience for

the cadets to connect with Major Nguyen and bond with each

other. This event allowed for

the cadets to push their

physical and mental abilities as they scaled the

mountains. It enabled them to get more comfortable

navigating through wooded terrain. But as always,

and most importantly, the cadets were able to have a

fun-filled weekend getting out into nature.

“Lead from the Front”.

Major Nguyen climbs

Baker Mountain.

CDT William “Big Willy”

Marklinger races down

Panther Mountain.

CDTs Fowler, Leiber, and

Schreiner coming down

Panther Mountain

The GKB Team get a photo with Clarkson

Alumni, Mr. Clyde Rabideau, mayor of

Saranac Lake at the Sixer start/finish

line

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Preliminary Marksmanship

By Madison Cunningham

The last Military Science Lab in September for the GKB

Battalion consisted of Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction.

Cadets were instructed on the details necessary for range

operations that would take place the following day at the Potsdam

Police Range. Briefs on safety were given to the cadets at the lab,

They were taught how to properly disassemble and reassemble an

M4 rifle by the senior class, and how to properly load and unload

the weapon system. The range began at 0600 on Friday morning

and continued until 1600 that afternoon. Upon arriving at the range,

cadets signed in and were given a final safety brief before

beginning the process. They started by loading the M4

magazines with thirty rounds each, then each cadet

would shoot six iterations of five at a target 30 meters

away. After each iteration, the cadet would walk down

to the target and view the group that he or she had

shot, determining where adjustment was needed, if

necessary. As the cadets continued the process, they

were taught the proper way to shoot, specifically how

to breathe, when to relax, how to aim and squeeze the trigger. The MS4s at both the lab

and the range did very well and certainly were successful in assisting the cadets

understand the fundamentals of handling and

firing the M4. Their familiarity with the

weapon was enhanced and new skills were

gained as the cadets learned more about

themselves mentally and physically, Thanks

for this opportunity that we had at the

Potsdam Police Range.

CDT Fries receives

instruction from c/CPT

Sadler

c/CPT Perillo was in charge of supply

and distribution of ammunition at the

range

c/CPT Olsen instructs CDT Zubak on the finer

points of marksmanship

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Monthly Photos

The Clarkson 10-miler team

visits the Tomb of the Unknown

Soldier at Arlington National

Cemetery

Cadet Battalion Commander runs with his

subordinates during PT

Cadets who scored 280 or higher on their PT test

are awarded the PT badge by Major Nguyen Cadet Ritzenthaler climbing

the Air Assault rope

Cadet Suski checks Cadet Dindo’s harness

Cadet Scarlatta climbs the Air

Assault rope during a squad

competition

Documents

Golden knight battalion newsletter · 2018-11-12 · GOLDEN KNIGHT BATTALION NEWSLETTER 5 Cadet Experience U.S. Army Ten Miler By David Mackey The Army Ten-Mile Race is an annual